News: Missouri Guard welcomes Anderson as new Guard officer

Second Lt. Markland Anderson (left) and 2nd Lt. Caton Jeffries of the Missouri National Guard, recite the Oath of Commissioned Officers during a commissioning ceremony April 29, 2013, held at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City. “It was nerve-racking at first. It was intimidating. But, having conquered it, I am prepared to take on anything,” said Anderson (Missouri National Guard photo by Nathan Dampf).

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri National Guard, friends and Families congratulated 2nd Lt. Markland Anderson and two fellow new Army National Guard officers Monday morning at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City.

“It was nerve-racking at first,” said Anderson. “It was intimidating. But, having conquered it, I am prepared to take on anything.”

OCS is the National Guard’s officer training program administered by the Alabama Military Academy in Fort McClellan, Ala. The eight-week long program introduces officer candidates to leadership and management skills, as well as an education in military history and tactics. Approximately 50 percent of the selected candidates complete the full program.

Anderson, a Boston native, spent two years in the 1175th Military Police Company before commissioning as an officer. He was a sergeant before going into OCS. He will now join the 1137th Military Police Company.

At the ceremony, he was joined by his wife Sugako, his daughter Ayame, his son Kenji, his mother Yasmin Anglin. Maj. Josh Garrison and his wife Lachanda also joined Anderson at the ceremony.

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